A gentleman’s game played by hooligans and a game for hooligans played by gentlemen.

The difference between football and rugby could not have been more marked this week as once again grossly-overpaid, spoilt brats displayed appallingly ignorant behaviour.

In the Six Nations players addressed the referee as ‘sir’ and accepted decisions without question, whereas footballers screamed obscenities, appealed and surrounded the ref.

However, despite the disgusting behaviour displayed by a group of uncouth multi-millionaires, when you think about it it’s the powers that be who are to blame.

Over the years both sports have adapted their rulebooks in an effort to both improve the game and, hopefully, enhance the viewing spectacle for fans. But, whatever rule changes have been introduced rugby has always ensured respect for the referee has been maintained.

Football, on the other hand, has constantly allowed outside influences, not least financial pressure, to cloud its decisions and, in bowing to such pressures, has increasingly failed its officials.

Rugby players respect referees because if they don’t they are immediately penalised, either by a loss of territory or points on the field, or by being sent from the pitch.

'I’ve heard cases of lower levels referees not just being verbally abused but being physically assaulted both during, and after, games...'

Football could very easily adopt a similar sin-bin system and, at the same time, introduce a zero tolerance policy towards referees being abused. In fact, at a grass roots level such dismissals for dissent have already been trialled but, as usual, top level football drags its feet.

The latest, and most ridiculous, example of weakness regarding Premier League referees was on display this Saturday, following an advisory they should not allow any more than two players from one side to question their decision and abuse them.

Apparently, in an attempt to stop them being surrounded and abused en-masse, they have been told to book the third player to approach them. Can you imagine a rugby ref accepting such nonsense?

I accept the RFU and World Rugby don’t always get things right, there are plenty of examples of mistakes, one very recent, but at least their intentions are good and they are not afraid to act in what they believe are the best interests of the game.

The FA and FIFA, on the other hand, have shied away from taking difficult decisions for decades and have, as a result, let down players, fans and, in particular referees.

And, if it’s bad for officials at the highest level imagine what it must be like for referees at grassroots level. Whether the worst behaviour in lower league and junior football can be blamed on players being influenced by what they see on the TV on a Saturday is open to debate, but I’ve heard cases of lower levels referees not just being verbally abused but being physically assaulted both during, and after, games.

This would be unimaginable at any level in rugby.

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